Plini, sungazer, Jakub Zytecki @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide 14/3/2024
There is no doubting the question that Plini Roessler-Holgate, known mononymously as Plini is an incredible talent. Following a busy year of sold out shows across Europe and North America, Plini will returns to Australian in celebration of his new EP Mirage with New York-based international future jazz group Sungazer and the Polish progressive rock virtuoso Jakub Zytecki. Lion Arts Factory was packed and with another hot day in Adelaide it was like a sauna in the venue. Nevertheless, Adelaide was treated to three great performances even impressing the staunchest of guitar aficionados.
I have said in previous reviews that saying they just play music without any vocals is being disingenuous and dismissing an entire genre of music that is gaining rapid appeal. Guitar wonder kid Jakub Zytecki knows how to seriously play. I plead ignorance saying I have not heard of him before but his set was phenomenal.
sungazer are a band that I have been hanging to see as they keep popping up on Spotify play lists and these New Yorkers were ace. They brought their unique blend of hard-hitting Jazz Fusion, 8-bit, Progressive Rock and EDM to create the sungazer sound. The core of the band is bassist Adam Neely and drummer Shawn Crowder touring with a guitarist and saxophonist.
Their matching outfits brought plenty of colour and I’m pretty sure everyone will remember the “sungazer two step”, two steps to the right then two steps to the left and repeat. Undoubtedly the most movement we saw all night. They played with precision and what they played was intricately pieced together. Set highlights for me included the likes of Cool 7, Macchina and the last song which was an absolutely banger being the Mahavishnu Orchestra of Vital Transformation. Seriously, check out sungazer on Spotify.
Plini was up next upping the ante on all facets with a live sound and production to rival most. Clearly, he is not big on introductions or giving any greater insight to the music opting to plough on right in to it. Hells bells! Phenomenal is an understatement. Very hard not to be in awe with what we were able to experienced and I believe the rest of the crowd would be thinking similar. Opening track for the night and off the Mirage EP The Red Fox was a blistering and powerful moment. The stage was lit up with a moon crest and lights that resembled stars. As the lighting sequence change it was a powerful complement to reflect the mood and tone of the song.
Plini is a deep fellow and spends a lot of time thinking saying that everything in the set was pre-planned and that they don’t move to much suggesting that the crowd respond with a gentle clap rather than respond by going over the top. Ember and Still Life from the EP were great moments with Plini acknowledging later in the set that he was feeling satisfied with the evening despite the “toxic cycle” about returning to Adelaide with less than encouraging pre-sale numbers and stringing him along and turning up on the night providing the eventual affirmation that his decision to play here was justified. The extend jam of Electric Sunrise featuring Jackub Zytecki and Shubh Saran was the stand out moment from an all round great show.
Live Review By Rob Lyon